Woman, 56, killed in Puna collision 03-16-05

MEDIA RELEASE

A 56-year-old woman died of injuries she suffered in a two-car traffic collision Wednesday (March 16, 2005) at the intersection of the Keaau-Pahoa Road (Route 130) and Kaloli Drive in Puna.

The victim was identified as Lucille Nacionales, of a Keaau address.

Responding to a 3:08 p.m. call, Puna patrol officers determined that Nacionales was driving a 2000 Toyota sedan east on Route 130 when she tried to make a left turn onto Kaloli Drive and collided with a 1992 black Toyota sedan traveling west on the highway.

Nacionales was taken to the Hilo Medical Center, where she later died of her injuries. She was pronounced dead at 5:46 p.m.

The driver of the second car, a pregnant 23-year-old female, was also taken to the hospital, where medical personnel induced labor, but couldn’t revive the baby. The woman remains in the hospital in satisfactory condition. Her six-year-old son was treated for minor injuries and released.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a coroner’s inquest case and ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Wednesday’s death was the 11th traffic fatality on the Big Island so far this year, compared to eight at the same time last year.